Three More Quality Recruits for OPSU Women's Basketball

Scott Puryear of OPSU Sports on 06/10/2010Goodwell, Okla. — Oklahoma Panhandle State women's basketball coach Brad Vanden Boogaard has had a very productive recruiting season and he has added nine quality players to his program. The three newest Lady Aggies are Nicole Dames (5'7" guard), Nicole Buhl (5'10" forward), and LeAnna Espinosa (5'5" guard).

Dames (a transfer from the University of Western Alabama), is originally from Downers Grove, Illinois and played two seasons at Kishwaukee College prior to her stop at UWA. During those two seasons, she put her name in the school record book several times — sixth in career scoring (828), 13th in single season scoring (466), first in single season assists (178), and first in career assists (261). Karen Wiley, head coach at Kishwaukee, said, "Nicole Dames helped take our program to a level it had never experienced before. She brought a great deal of desire, maturity and passion for the game. A lot of kids may say they love the game, but Nicole will eat, sleep and breathe the game and ask for more." Dames (a true point guard) has proven to be a winner, leading Kishwaukee to its first ever 20-victory season.

Buhl (from Bremerton, Washington) played the past two seasons at Seattle Community College (SCC). During those campaigns, she put together solid statistics, averaging 11 points and seven rebounds per game as a sophomore. Rebecca Valdivia, SCC head coach, said, "Nicole is a hard worker and pushes the standards of herself and her teammates, and her work ethic and sheer desire to compete certainly make her a valuable asset to any program." Buhl is also an excellent student and earned All-Academic NWAACC in the 2009-10 season.

Espinosa played high school ball in Spearman, Texas and during her senior year the team finished 17-4. In her final season, she collected many individual honors, including first team All-District, Academic All-State, and was a member of the Golden Spread All-Star Tournament. According to Spearman head coach Junior Ashmore, "LeAnna is a tremendous athlete, and with some work, she will be able to contribute at OPSU. She had a great career at Spearman, due to her work ethic and ability, which allowed our program to have a lot of success." Espinosa was also a member of the State Championship Cross Country Team.

Vanden Boogaard added, "In the past we have been short handed at the point guard and post positions. With the addition of Dames and Buhl I feel we become a deeper team that will be able to handle the adversity that is thrown at us during the season. As for Espinosa, I am excited about the athleticism she brings to the wing and the tremendous upside she has."

It is shaping up to be a very exciting winter of Oklahoma Panhandle State women's basketball.